Page 69 of Glass Hearts
“S-s-shock, I-I will be o-okay. T-Thank y-you.” Adrenaline races through my whole body.
“You can hear me?” he says as he comes up to me and nuzzles my cheek. The entire room is bathed in blood, and so is his bloody face nuzzling into me. Lying down next to me, he gives me space to get my breathing back down.
“W-whats your name?” I ask the bear.
“Sir Maxwell the Fifth, at your service, ma’am.” His large paw moves as he bows.
“May I just call you Max?”
“I suppose so. How did you get into this mess with the farmer? We don’t like him here; he is always setting death traps for us animals. And we saw him bury his past wives. Wish I could have saved them then, but I didn’t know.”
I thread my hands through his blood soaked fur. “You did well today, thank you. Is there something I can do for you?”
“Would you mind stitching the wound he gave me from his knife? Then maybe we can see if he has any food in his kitchen. I would rather not eat this gross man.”
I gasp as I see the large gash on Max. Immediately, I get up on shaky legs and run around the house, trying to find a sewing kit or emergency kit. Blessedly, I find a dusted sewing kit in one of the bathrooms. Max lies on his side as he spots me with the kit, and I stitch him up.
I tell Max the whole sordid story, a cathartic experience having someone—or I guess somebear—to talk to, as I stitched him up.
“I am so sorry he hurt you, Max.”
“It’s of no matter to me. Barely felt it. I wish I could help sew you up, too. Should have gone after those other two. They smelled like ash, like villains.”
“Villains have a smell?”
“Yup, evil has a smell. The farmer, Randal, smelled like one, too. Another reason I have no desire to eat him.” I hear a large rumble, I assume in laughter, from my new fury friend. I can’t help but giggle too, even after all the trauma.
“Let’s get ourselves some food, and maybe try to clean the blood from our bodies.”
I gave him all the raw meat that I found in Randall’s fridge; he happily chomps away. Pulling out the cheese and some bread, I make a sad sandwich for myself. Randall seemed to eat mostly meat. Why am I not surprised?
“It’s nice being able to talk to one of you humans. Maybe you can help us put restrictions on people hunting us? I have lost most of my family to poachers. Some are doing it just for sport.” My heart aches at the confession from the bear.
“I will do the best I can to help you and the others, Max. You have my word.”
We fall silent as we finish our meals.
Max goes to take a bath in the river, saying he will be back shortly. The reality of the past few hours is sinking in as float around the house in shock.I am free. I know I won’t have long until Bernice finds out Randal is dead. Knowing her, she will still check in on me. Not because she cares, but because she doesn’t want me to interfere with her grand scheme.
It’s time for a plan of my own.
The farmer’s house does not have any magical plumbing, so I opt to wash myself with the sink basin and a cloth. The cold water was soothing to all my physical and emotional aches, washing away all the blood and emotions from the last twenty-four hours. Going through Randall’s house, I find women’s clothing in boxes, which must have been from his deceased wives. Thankfully, I find a pair of brown pants, though tight, and a cream loose-sleeved top. I try my best to bandage my back, asit would be a shame to ruin this lovely top. Putting my hair into a braid, I look in the grimy bathroom mirror.
I see a sad woman, but I also see a woman with new hope. Free from my curse, free from my downright evil stepfamily.
My plan starts to take shape.
In the closet, I also find a satchel, perfect for filling with supplies throughout the house that I may need. I try to skip around the bloodied scene in the living room, almost missing my dropped golden dagger.Can’t leave her behind.
Tip-tapping sounds from the window in the kitchen as grab road snacks. I open the window to find Petra.
“Petra! I am so happy to see you, friend.”
“Arabelly! I tried to get help, but of course, the humans wouldn’t listen to my calls. I am glad to see you are okay. Are we heading back to the castle?”
“No, we aren’t, dear friend. Your help will be needed once more if you are up to it.” I cut an apple I picked off the tree outside as I hand it to her. “I made a note for Elora; she needs to get Kip and Bert, and they need to get out of there. You are going to need to fly very fast. Can you handle it? ”
“CAW,of course I can!”
